Fast food restaurant Chick-fil-A is officially coming to Lenoir City.
A property transfer from the Loudon County Register of Deeds shows MSM Development LLC handing over the warranty deed for the former Panda Buffet property, lot 1, to Chick-fil-A for more than $1.2 million.
Mike Morris, a broker for Atlanta-based Morris Investments Inc., said searching for a location in the community had been going on for “several years.” He said Chick-fil-A wanted to be near Interstate 75 and accessible to the community.
“We’ve been looking in that area for several years and looking at a variety of opportunities and just nothing made any sense except this particular one, so this is the one we pursued,” he said. “… They (Chick-fil-A) like to go where there’s a lot of retail in the area to take advantage of the synergism created by the retail and be accessible to the population they’re trying to serve.”
Lenoir City Assistant Codes Enforcement Officer Beth Collins said a building permit was issued Dec. 20 to Knoxville-based Richardson Turner Construction General Contractors.
RTC General Contractors Project Manager Chester Carbaugh said workersbegan demolition Monday. The project, including the construction phase, is expected to be complete sometime in May, he said.
Loudon County Trustee Chip Miller said the restaurant had been searching in the area for at least seven years.
“I think they’re a good family oriented company and from what I can tell, they’re � in every community that they’ve been involved in they’re good corporate citizens and I think that they will do well there and maybe fill a fast food void at the interstate that we currently might have, and add to our tax base,” Miller said.
“You know, that’s one of my things,” he said. “We’re trying to increase our tax base and keep our tax rates as low as possible. I think they will do well in sales and help Lenoir City in sales tax.”
Kristen Ferretti, Chick-fil-A development consultant, said Justin Young will be the operator in Lenoir City. Ferretti could offer no further information about Young or the location’s timetable for opening.
“In the five years that I’ve been here, it’s the No. 1 asked for business of that type, so I anticipate them doing very well here,” Collins said.
Author: Jeremy Nash
Source: News-Herald
With the county’s primary election about five months away, most candidates have already begun taking it to the streets to get at least 25 signatures for election eligibility.
The Loudon County Elections Commission started issuing petitions Nov. 22, leaving potential candidates until Feb. 20 to return their paperwork with the minimum amount of registered voter signatures.
Seats up for election include county mayor, sheriff, county commission, General Sessions Court judge, circuit court clerk, county clerk, road superintendent and trustee. The road superintendent and sheriff must file paperwork with their respective parties in Nashville by Feb. 6 before turning in a petition to the elections commission.
“The process for the candidates as far as the petition process is a very simple process, if they follow the guidelines provided to them in the candidates handbook,” Susan Harrison, administrator of elections, said in an email. “The elections commission provides each candidate a handbook in hopes that it will simplify the process and give them answers to questions that is very often asked. If they cannot find the answer in the book, then they know they can always call the office for help.”
Eight new candidates picked up packets to qualify. Two new candidates will be running for District 1, Seat A of the commission because Commissioner Brian Jenkins has chosen not to seek re-election. Commission Chairman Roy Bledsoe has not issued a petition for District 4.
Jenkins said campaigning was more challenging as a learning process than physically demanding.
“Well, nothing worth doing’s ever easy,” he said. “It is what you make of it. If you want to be successful you’re going to have to work hard at it and get out and talk to a lot of people and knock on some doors and, you know, go where the people are to introduce yourself and kind of let them know what your point of view is about things and hopefully they’re up for supporting that way — lot of leg work.”
For a full list of current candidates, please refer to “May 2014 County Primary petition information” under the Information for Voters tab at http://www.loudoncountyvotes.com.
New campaigners
Eight-year Loudon County resident Richard Anklin said he first considered running for District 7 of the commission, currently held by Don Miller, back in August because he was concerned with the county’s property taxes.
“Anytime you run against an incumbent, you don’t want to run on a negative campaign,” he said. “I think Don (Miller) has fulfilled his role as commissioner of the last years in a very decent manner. I just think it’s time to have a change on the commission. I don’t want to run on a negative campaign against Don. … I want to focus on the taxes of the county and the spending of the county residents’ money. Can it be done any better?”
Anklin’s petition was issued Dec. 3. With about 13 names signed, he said he plans to turn in the paperwork next week. Email and flier distribution will be Anklin’s method of campaigning, he said.
Matthew Tinker will be running for District 2, Seat B of the commission, currently held by Rosemary Quillen.
“I would like to see our housing base continue to grow,” he said. “It has kind of stalled over the last few years and we’ve had several industries in Loudon County shut down over the last few years. I would like to work with the other county commissioners and the mayor to help bring in some new businesses to Loudon County and to … help some areas like Town Creek continue to put in stores and apartments and movie theaters, whatever they’re going to put in there to help just all things that would increase the tax base here.”
Tinker’s petition was issued Nov. 22. He said he started asking for signatures Dec. 4, and had five people sign the petition. Tinker said he plans to do door-to-door campaigning.
Sherri Colvard is vying for the county trustee seat. According to the Elections Commission, her petitioned was issued Nov. 26.
Colvard said she ran for county trustee four years ago, which she believes will help her in the months leading up to May. She has not decided how she wants to campaign. “I am more knowledgeable on running a campaign for this office,” she said.
Seeking the office
Noting his first fundraiser was Nov. 14, Loudon County Trustee Chip Miller said a contested primary election could “easily” cost a candidate $20,000. He believes candidates should have started preparing for the primary election “about six months ago.”
“I think anyone who wants to have a career in public service ought to have the opportunity to run, and I’m not running against anyone, I’m running for the position,” Miller said. “I think my experience as a small business owner has helped and will continue to help run a very efficient Loudon County trustee’s office.”
Miller’s petition was issued Nov. 22. He said he had surpassed the 25-signature minimum and expected to turn in his petition soon with about 50 names of registered voters.
Harrison said some candidates seek higher signature counts based on their belief of “great support in the community.”
Loudon County Road Superintendent Eddie Simpson said he submitted his petition Nov. 22 with 100 signatures.
“I think it makes a statement too that I’m serious about it,” Simpson said. “And I think people have confidence, you know, in that many people sign it that’s all — I just asked for enough space for 100 signatures and that’s what I took it back as.”
If re-elected, Simpson said he would like to “do a lot of paving in the county” because some roads are about 30 years old. He said he would fully commit to campaigning after he officially announced his candidacy in January.
“I just want to pick that up early, you know, just to make a statement and let people know I was going to run again, because the last election I didn’t come out until … actually two months before the primary, which was kind of at the last minute compared to everybody else,” Simpson said. “This time I want to come out and let people know I did intend to do another four-year term and hope I have their support.”
Author: Vicky Newman
Source: News-Herald
For several years, the Boys & Girls Club of Loudon County has been searching for a suitable site in Loudon for a satellite club location.Of the club’s 433 participants, only 37 at present are from Loudon, but that is something the club’s board of directors would like to change.Dean Deatherage, executive director, said a Loudon club is needed and is at the top of the board’s wish list.
“We have lots of interest,” Deatherage said. “I have fielded many calls from parents and kids who want to come. Some come during the summer, and they love our staff and love the program, but when school starts, it is not feasible.”
The club’s buses visit six city and county schools in Lenoir City and transport members to the club at 201 N. B St. in Lenoir City for after-school programs. “It’s too much distance to service Loudon schools,” Deatherage said. “We’re definitely looking for a place in Loudon, whether it is acquired or purchased, a free standing club with everything traditional or a shared space.”
Boys & Girls Clubs traditionally offer programs with some playground and green space area or a gym for kids to get exercise. The club has teaching rooms for learning games, homework, arts and crafts, music rooms, teen centers and other approved activities.
In an age when many children are “latchkey kids,” home alone and unsupervised after school, the club is a positive place, Deatherage said.
“A lot of stuff now can reach out and grab kids, even through the Internet,” Deatherage said. “Boys & Girls Clubs offer a safe environment. The kids can exercise and stay out of trouble, and they are more than twice as likely to graduate.”
Tammy Lane, board president, said several Loudon sites have been considered and inspected as possible locations in recent years. None so far have been suitable or economically feasible. Lane is from the Loudon area and a strong advocate for a Loudon club site.
She said the organization needs to build its Loudon membership base before committing to a major capital campaign for a permanent site.
“Ideally, we would love to find a shared space, in a Loudon school or possibly a church,” Lane said. “Last month, Boys & Girls Clubs of Tennessee Valley started a program partnering with a church in Knoxville for after-school. So, now we will have a model. We may be able to get churches interested in Loudon if we can show how it works in another county.”
Club membership has grown each year and currently serves 435 members, with an average daily attendance of 114, Deatherage said.
“It is incredible the support we get,” Deatherage said. “We always say the kids are voting with their feet. When they come back here, it means they believe in the program. It is meeting a need.”
Club locations in the Tennessee Valley include one school and four public housing communities, three teen centers, nine free standing clubs, the Richard L. Bean Detention Center and the Gene Monday Gym. The clubs are open every day after school and provide care all day during summer months, school holidays and in-service days.
“We are confident we will find a place for a Loudon program,” Deatherage said.
Loudon County Trustee Chip Miller, who was involved in the beginning of the reorganization of the old Boys Club, said the club had been started years before by a Lenoir City High School science teacher.
“It had gotten to the point that they just met on Tuesdays for basketball at the (War) Memorial Building,” Miller said. “Mr. (James “Jim”) Herron was in his 80s, and it was not the environment the Boys & Girls Club wanted.”
Several community leaders decided to reorganize, formed a new board and started a capital campaign. Through the efforts of former city schools superintendent Wayne Miller, the program was located at Lenoir City Elementary School for a time before permanently locating in the old Central United Methodist Church gym. The club purchased the entire church property, using the family life center for the boys and girls and leasing the sanctuary building to churches.
“That building turned out to be a really good purchase,” Miller said. He rotated off the board for several years and just went back on in June. “When I came back on the board, I was told a Loudon facility is a priority project of the board.”
The Loudon Utilities Board voted Aug. 26 to sponsor the Boys & Girls Club golf tournament fundraiser at the $2,000 silver sponsor level as in past years. However, board members discussed their desire to see a stronger club presence in Loudon. Less than 9 percent of club members live in the LUB service area.
